Candidate petitions to file for one of the 12 positions in Pope, Yell and Johnson counties during the 2014 school board election are available through the county clerk's office.

All candidates — even those running for re-election — must collect at least 20 signatures on a petition from registered voters who are residents of the school district, fill out a political practices pledge and complete an affidavit of eligibility.

"We advise [candidates] to get more than that in case someone who signs is not a registered voter," the Pope County Clerk's office said of the petition.

Pope County, with six, has the most positions up for election — a seat in Atkins currently held by Brian Boyer; a seat in Dover currently held by Michael Joe Hemmer; a seat in Hector currently held by Terry Epperson; a seat in Pottsville currently held by Tracy Taylor; the Zone 3 seat in Russellville currently held by Margie Smith; and the At-Large seat in Russellville currently held by Randy Campbell.

In Yell County, four positions are up for grabs — a seat in Dardanelle currently held by Jody Sigle; a seat in Danville; a seat in Two Rivers currently held by Bobby Smith; and a seat in Western Yell County currently held by Kenny Akin. The Courier was unable to reach the Danville School District, and it is not clear from its website whose term is up.

Two seats are open in Johnson County — the Zone 4 seat in Clarksville currently held by Clay Austin and a seat in Lamar currently held by Jason James.

Each open position in all three counties is for a five-year term.

Candidates were allowed to start circulating petitions Sunday. The filing period begins July 1 and ends at noon July 8. Petitions will be certified by each county clerk on July 9.

Early voting for the annual school election will be conducted from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays Sept. 9-15. Polls will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, Sept. 16.